DOCSLIB.ORG

Interactions of Climate Change with Biological Invasions and Land Use in the Hawaiian Islands

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Interactions of Climate Change with Biological Invasions and Land Use in the Hawaiian Islands Interactions of climate change with biological invasions and land use in the Hawaiian Islands: Modeling the fate of endemic birds using a geographic information system Tracy L. Benning*†, Dennis LaPointe‡, Carter T. Atkinson‡, and Peter M. Vitousek§ *Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, Ecosystem Sciences Division, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3110; ‡National Biological Service, National Wildlife Health Center, Hawaii Volcanoes Field Station, P.O. Box 218, Hawaii National Park, HI 96718; and §Department of Biological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 Contributed by Peter M. Vitousek, June 21, 2002 The Hawaiian honeycreepers (Drepanidae) represent a superb transmission of malaria to native birds is significant (10). At illustration of evolutionary radiation, with a single colonization higher elevations, both Culex populations and prevalence of event giving rise to 19 extant and at least 10 extinct species Plasmodium decline while native birds reach their peak abun- [Curnutt, J. & Pimm, S. (2001) Stud. Avian Biol. 22, 15–30]. They also dance and diversity. These high-elevation forests are the last represent a dramatic example of anthropogenic extinction. Crop refuge for 10 species of endangered forest birds, 8 of which are and pasture land has replaced their forest habitat, and human honeycreepers: the Hawaii creeper (Oreomystis mana), palila introductions of predators and diseases, particularly of mosquitoes (Loxioides bailleui),`kiapola a `u a (Hemignathus munroi), Hawaii and avian malaria, has eliminated them from the remaining low- `kepaa (Loxops c. coccineus), and`lala a (Corvus hawaiiensis)ofthe and mid-elevation forests. Landscape analyses of three high- island of Hawaii, the`kohekohe a (Palmeria dolei), parrotbill elevation forest refuges show that anthropogenic climate change (Pseudonestor xanthophrys), and po o`uli (Melamprosops phaeo- is likely to combine with past land-use changes and biological soma) of Maui, and the puaiohi (Myadestes palmeri) and Kauai invasions to drive several of the remaining species to extinction, `kepaa (Loxops c. caeruleirostris) of Kauai. Several other species especially on the islands of Kauai and Hawaii. remain federally listed as endangered, but there is little hope that any individuals will survive. Other native species remain abun- ossil evidence shows that the Hawaiian Islands were once dant in these higher elevation forests, although some of them are Fhome to more than 100 endemic species and subspecies of declining as well. land and water birds (1). The arrival of Polynesians and, subse- There is substantial evidence from studies of human as well as quently, Europeans and other colonists ended the isolation that avian malaria that the development of Plasmodium parasites fostered the evolution of this diverse avifauna. Currently, 48 of within mosquitoes is temperature-dependent and that there is a the more than 100 original species are listed as extant; however, threshold temperature below which Plasmodium cannot develop 11 of these species have not been seen in more than a decade and to its infective stage (11, 12). In Hawaii, the threshold temper- are probably extinct (2). To date, extinctions of the honeycreep- ature for transmission of Plasmodium relictum has been esti- ers in particular have been driven largely by habitat loss, mated to be 13°C, whereas peak Plasmodium prevalence in wild introduced predators, and diseases (3–6). Habitat loss began mosquitoes occurs in mid-elevation forests where the mean with Polynesian colonists, who cleared much of the low-elevation ambient summer temperature is 17°C (10). and seasonally dry forest for agricultural purposes (7). Europe- Could anthropogenic climate change exacerbate the effects of ans and other colonists introduced new agricultural technology an introduced temperature-dependent disease, driving many of and additional domesticated animals; the introduction of cattle the remaining native birds over the brink to extinction? The key and sheep in particular led to the development of pasturages in climatic features of Hawaiian montane forests are the northeast high-elevation forest that further reduced the amount of suitable trade winds and the associated trade-wind inversion. The alti- habitat for native forest birds (8, 9). Today, the distribution of tude of this inversion averages 1,900 m; above that altitude, montane tropical rainforest is constrained by agriculture and humidity and precipitation decline rapidly, setting an upper limit urban development at low elevations, and pasture remains the to forest vegetation (13). Although the Hawaiian Islands are major human land use at high elevations. maritime, and so relatively well buffered climatically, palyno- The Polynesians hunted some birds for food and feathers and logical studies show that both local temperatures and the ele- also introduced rats and dogs that preyed on nesting birds. Later vation of the trade-wind inversion have responded substantially colonists introduced several additional predators, most notably to past climate changes (14–16). How will global climate change mongooses, cats, and two additional species of rats. For forest- affect the regional and local climate in Hawaiian montane dwelling native birds, honeycreepers in particular, the accidental rainforests? introduction of mosquitoes and avian pox, and more recently Although detailed predictions of regional climate remain avian malaria, has had the greatest consequences. Field research uncertain, particularly in the tropics, recent studies that focused in Hawaiian forests shows that native bird abundances, malarial on montane forests of the Neotropics provide some evidence for parasite prevalence, and mosquito vector levels vary predictably a common climatic response under a warming scenario. Based on along elevational gradients (ref. 5; Fig. 1). The introduced global climate simulations under elevated CO2 conditions, Still mosquito, Culex quinquefasciatus, is present in high numbers at et al. (17) suggest that sea-surface warming in the Pacific will lower elevations where many introduced birds and almost no cause an intensification of the tropical hydrologic cycle, which in native birds are found. Because the introduced birds are resistant turn will cause the release of latent heat after condensation, to malaria, the prevalence of Plasmodium in avian populations from those elevations is low. Malaria prevalence increases †To whom correspondence should be addressed at the present address: Department of significantly in mid-elevation forest, corresponding to the lowest Environmental Science, Harney Science Center, Room 528, 2130 Fulton Street, University elevations at which native birds are found currently, and here of San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94711-1080. E-mail: [email protected]. 14246–14249 ͉ PNAS ͉ October 29, 2002 ͉ vol. 99 ͉ no. 22 www.pnas.org͞cgi͞doi͞10.1073͞pnas.162372399 Downloaded by guest on September 30, 2021 and͞or private owners manage all these areas as parks and͞or preserves for conservation; all support substantial research on the endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers. We assumed that a 2°C increase in regional temperatures would occur by some time late in the next century, in keeping with climate-model predictions for the region. We further assumed that the trade-wind inversion would increase in altitude, bringing increased precipitation to high-elevation forests. Finally, we assumed that the rate of temperature change and of expansion in the transmission of malaria will be substantially more rapid than the rate of forest expansion above the current treeline. Our analyses entailed projecting spatially the isotherms for the critical temperatures for Plasmodium development under both current conditions and a 2°C warming scenario. Using a 30-m U.S. Geological Survey digital elevation model for each island and a lapse rate of Ϸ6.5°C͞km (23), we mapped the location of the 17 and 13°C isotherms as a vector data layer. The area below Fig. 1. A generalized model of native bird abundances, malarial para- the 17°C isotherm (increasing temperature) is the region where site incidence, and mosquito vector levels along an elevation gradient in malarial infection is certain, and above the 13°C isotherm Hawaii [Reproduced with permission from ref. 5 (Copyright 1986, Ecol. Soc. (decreasing temperature) development of the parasite does not Am.)]. occur. Next, we overlaid the vector coverages of the refuge boundaries and temperature isotherms onto a false-color com- posite Satellite Pour l’Observation de la Terre (SPOT) satellite warming the atmosphere. From these results, Still et al. (17) and image collected in January of 1995. We then calculated the Pounds et al. (18) suggest an increase in the lifting condensation change in forest reserve area under the warmer climate scenario level and the height of orographic clouds. These changes, termed for the following three temperature zones: above 17°C, between the lifting cloud-base hypothesis, would increase both the lower 17 and 13°C, and below 13°C. These zones correspond to a ECOLOGY and upper altitudinal limits of montane cloud forests (19). high-risk zone for malaria infection (above 17°C), a transition Changes consistent with this prediction have been observed in zone where some transmission is possible but limited (between Central American montane forests, although an alternative 17 and 13°C), and a low-risk zone (high-elevation forest at or mechanism, upwind deforestation of lowland
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Avian Malaria on Madagascar: Prevalence, Biodiversity and Specialization of Haemosporidian Parasites
    International Journal for Parasitology 49 (2019) 199–210 Contents lists available at ScienceDirect International Journal for Parasitology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/ijpara Avian malaria on Madagascar: prevalence, biodiversity and specialization of haemosporidian parasites q ⇑ Sandrine Musa a, , Ute Mackenstedt a, Friederike Woog b,1, Anke Dinkel a,1 a University of Hohenheim, Emil-Wolff-Str. 34, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany b State Museum of Natural History Stuttgart, Rosenstein 1, 70191 Stuttgart, Germany article info abstract Article history: Previous studies about geographic patterns of species diversity of avian malaria parasites and others in Received 18 March 2018 the Order Haemosporida did not include the avian biodiversity hotspot Madagascar. Since there are Received in revised form 31 October 2018 few data available on avian malaria parasites on Madagascar, we conducted the first known large- Accepted 1 November 2018 scale molecular-based study to investigate their biodiversity. Samples (1067) from 55 bird species were Available online 22 November 2018 examined by a PCR method amplifying nearly the whole haemosporidian cytochrome b gene (1063 bp). The parasite lineages found were further characterized phylogenetically and the degree of specialization Keywords: was determined with a newly introduced host diversity index (Hd). Our results demonstrate that Plasmodium Madagascar indeed represents a biodiversity hotspot for avian malaria parasites as we detected 71 genet- Haemoproteus Leucocytozoon ically distinct parasite lineages of the genera Plasmodium and Haemoproteus. Furthermore, by using a Host diversity phylogenetic approach and including the sequence divergence we suspect that the detected haemo- sporidian lineages represent at least 29 groups i.e. proposed species. The here presented Hd values for each parasite regarding host species, genus and family strongly support previous works demonstrating the elastic host ranges of some avian parsites of the Order Haemosporida.
    [Show full text]
  • Facilitating the Evolution of Resistance to Avian Malaria in Hawaiian Birds
    BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION 128 (2006) 475– 485 available at www.sciencedirect.com journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/biocon Facilitating the evolution of resistance to avian malaria in Hawaiian birds A. Marm Kilpatrick* Department of Zoology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, United States Consortium for Conservation Medicine, 460 W, 34th Street, 17th Floor, Palisades, NY 10964, United States ARTICLE INFO ABSTRACT Article history: Research has shown that avian malaria plays an important role in limiting the distribution Received 17 February 2005 and population sizes of many Hawaiian birds, and that projected climate change is likely Received in revised form to eliminate most disease-free habitat in Hawai’i in the next century. I used a modeling 2 October 2005 approach, parameterized with demographic data from the literature and the field, to Accepted 10 October 2005 examine alternate management scenarios for the conservation of native Hawaiian birds. Available online 23 November 2005 I examined the feasibility of using management in the form of rodent control to facilitate the evolution of resistance to malaria by increasing the survival and reproduction of native Keywords: birds. Analysis of demographic data from seven native species, Akepa (Loxops coccineus), Management ‘Akohekohe (Palmeria dolei), Elepaio (Chasiempis sandwichensis), Hawai’i’amakihi (Hemigna- Endangered species thus virens), Hawai’i creeper (Oreomystis mana), Omao (Myadestes obscurus), and Palila (Loxio- Drepanidinae ides bailleui), suggest that differences in life history cause some species to be more Rodent control susceptible to local extinctions from the transmission of malaria. Modeling results demon- Demography strated that rodent control at middle, but not high, elevations can facilitate the evolution Survival of resistance to malaria in several species of Hawaiian birds.
    [Show full text]
  • Immunogenetics and Resistance to Avian Malaria in Hawaiian Honeycreepers (Drepanidinae)
    Studies in Avian Biology No. 22:254-263, 2001. IMMUNOGENETICS AND RESISTANCE TO AVIAN MALARIA IN HAWAIIAN HONEYCREEPERS (DREPANIDINAE) SUSAN I. JARVI, CARTER T. ATKINSON, AND ROBERT C. FLEISCHER Abstract. Although a number of factors have contributed to the decline and extinction of Hawai‘i’s endemic terrestrial avifauna, introduced avian malaria (Plasmodium relicturn)is probably the single most important factor preventing recovery of these birds in low-elevation habitats. Continued decline in numbers, fragmentation of populations, and extinction of species that are still relatively common will likely continue without new, aggressive approaches to managing avian disease. Methods of in- tervention in the disease cycle such as chemotherapy and vaccine development are not feasible because of efficient immune-evasion strategies evolved by the parasite, technical difficulties associated with treating wild avian populations, and increased risk of selection for more virulent strains of the parasite. We are investigating the natural evolution of disease resistance in some low-elevation native bird populations, particularly Hawai‘i ‘Amakihi (Hemignathus virens), to perfect genetic methods for iden- tifying individuals with a greater immunological capacity to survive malarial infection. We are focusing on genetic analyses of the major histocompatibility complex, due to its critical role in both humoral and cell-mediated immune responses. In the parasite, we are evaluating conserved ribosomal genes as well as variable genes encoding cell-surface molecules as a first step in developing a better under- standing of the complex interactions between malarial parasites and the avian immune system. A goal is to provide population managers with new criteria for maintaining long-term population stability for threatened species through the development of methods for evaluating and maintaining genetic diver- sity in small populations at loci important in immunological responsiveness to pathogens.
    [Show full text]
  • A Rapid Field Test for Tolerance to Avian Malaria in Hawaiian Honeycreepers: a New Tool for Restoring Native Hawaiian Forest Birds?
    Pacific Islands Climate Change Cooperative A rapid field test for tolerance to avian malaria in Hawaiian honeycreepers: a new tool for restoring native Hawaiian forest birds? Researchers with the US Geological Survey in Researchers evaluated three techniques for Hawai‘i, sponsored by the Pacific Islands their ability to rapidly measure a bird’s Climate Change Cooperative, have determined natural immunity with the hope that such that high levels of natural antibodies could be tests may predict survival from avian malaria. used as a potential marker of resistance to One of the tests yielded results: data showed avian malaria in the ‘Amakihi, a native species that compared to non-infected high-elevation of honeycreeper. This field marker is present birds, low-elevation ‘Amakihi at risk for even in birds who have not been infected. contracting malaria had significantly higher levels of natural antibodies. Avian malaria is a disease introduced into Hawai‘i in the early 1800s, and its rapid Additional work is needed to determine spread has contributed to the extinction of at whether the high levels of natural antibodies least 10 native bird species. Native bird correlate with the ability to recover from populations at cooler, higher elevations have avian malaria in ‘Amakihi and other native been protected from exposure to malaria honeycreepers. The field blood test used is because the mosquitos that spread the disease rapid, works regardless of whether the birds cannot survive there. However, avian malaria are infected with malaria or not, is relatively is likely to spread into Hawai‘i’s highest inexpensive, and works for a wide range of elevation forests as a result of increasing species.
    [Show full text]
  • Extinction Patterns in the Avifauna of the Hawaiian Islands
    Diversity and Distributions, (Diversity Distrib.) (2008) 14, 509–517 Blackwell Publishing Ltd BIODIVERSITY Extinction patterns in the avifauna of the RESEARCH Hawaiian islands Alison G. Boyer Department of Biology, University of ABSTRACT New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico, 87131 Through the continuing accumulation of fossil evidence, it is clear that the avifauna of the Hawaiian Islands underwent a large-scale extinction event around the time of Polynesian arrival. A second wave of extinctions since European colonization has further altered this unique avifauna. Here I present the first systematic analysis of the factors characterizing the species that went extinct in each time period and those that survived in order to provide a clearer picture of the possible causal mechanisms. These analyses were based on mean body size, dietary and ecological information and phylogenetic lineage of all known indigenous, non-migratory land and freshwater bird species of the five largest Hawaiian Islands. Extinct species were divided into ‘prehistoric’ and ‘historic’ extinction categories based on the timing of their last occurrence. A model of fossil preservation bias was also incorporated. I used regression trees to predict probability of prehistoric and historic extinction based on ecological variables. Prehistoric extinctions showed a strong bias toward larger body sizes and flightless, ground-nesting species, even after accounting for preservation bias. Many small, specialized species, mostly granivores and frugivores, also disappeared, implicating a wide suite of human impacts including destruction of dry forest habitat. In contrast, the highest extinction rates in the historic period were in medium-sized nectarivorous and insectivorous species. These differences result from different causal mechanisms underlying the two waves Correspondence: Alison G.
    [Show full text]
  • Plasmodium Falciparum Appears to Have Arisen As a Result of Lateral Transfer Between Avian and Human Hosts
    Proc. Nati. Acad. Sci. USA Vol. 88, pp. 3140-3144, April 1991 Evolution Plasmodium falciparum appears to have arisen as a result of lateral transfer between avian and human hosts (malaria/phylogeny/smali-subunlit ribosomal RNA/Farenholz's rule) A. P. WATERS*, D. G. HIGGINSt, AND T. F. MCCUTCHAN*t *Malaria Section, Laboratory of Parasitic Disease, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Building 4, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892; and tEuropean Molecular Biology Organization Data Library, Postfach 10.2209, Meyerhofstrasse 1, Heidelberg 6900, Federal Republic of Germany Communicated by Louis H. Miller, December 31, 1990 (receivedfor review November 7, 1990) ABSTRACT It has been proposed that the acquisition of many insights and may enable a more directed approach to Plasmodiumfalciparum by man is a relatively recent event and the study of the human pathogens of the genus. that the sustained presence of this disease in man is unlikely to An early classification scheme for Plasmodium, based on have been possible prior to the establishment ofagriculture. To a variety of biological and morphological criteria, erected establish phylogenetic relationships among the Plasmodum nine subgenera, three of which infect mammals, four avians, species and to unravel the mystery of the orign of P. faki- and two reptiles (5), although, given their use of a different parum, we have analyzed and compared phylogenetically the dipteran vector, the reptilian subgenera are not thought to be small-subunit ribosomal RNA gene sequences of the species of true representatives of Plasmodium (5). This picture was malaria that infect humans as well as a number of those expanded by the observation that the G+C content of the sequences from species that infect animals.
    [Show full text]
  • Invasive Species Management and Control: Avian Malaria (Plasmodium Relictum)
    Invasive Species Management and Control: Avian malaria (Plasmodium relictum) 1.0 PREVENTATIVE MEASURES 2.0 GENETIC MEASURES 3.0 CHEMICAL CONTROL 1.0 PREVENTATIVE MEASURES P. relictum presence is linked to mosquito populations, particularly of its main vector Culex quinquefasciatus Say. Thus effective management of avian malaria will “require extensive mosquito control efforts that are guided by the local ecology of the vector Culex quinquefasciatus (Lapointe 2008). To effectively eliminate malaria from a habitat either the vector (mosquito) must be eliminated or prevented from feeding on the bird (USDI and USGS 2005). This is difficult particularly in remote areas in the wet forests of Hawaii where wallows from feral pigs and hollowed out logs of the native apuu ferns provide ample areas of standing water where the mosquito breeds (USDI and USGS 2005). One effective procedure is to reduce the number of potential water catchment containers in order to reduce the mosquito breeding sites available (SPREP Undated). However, in Hawaii attempts to control mosquitoes by larval habitat reduction and larvicide use have been largely unsuccessful. The most common approach used to control mosquito vectors is the application of insecticides (McCarroll and Hemingway 2002 in Liu et al. 2005). However Cx. quinquefasciatus rapidly acquires resistance to many insecticides including organophosphates, carbamates and pyrethroids. Current research is directed towards identifying alternative insecticides, which meet criteria for vector control and show no cross-resistance to pyrethroids (Mosha et al. 2008). Biological control of mosquitoes has become a topic of considerable interest in response to the problem of insecticide resistance. The bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis subsp.
    [Show full text]
  • Avian Malaria and Related Parasites from Resident and Migratory Birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with Description of a New Haemoproteus Species
    pathogens Article Avian Malaria and Related Parasites from Resident and Migratory Birds in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest, with Description of a New Haemoproteus Species Carolina C. Anjos 1,† , Carolina R. F. Chagas 2,†, Alan Fecchio 3 , Fabio Schunck 4 , Maria J. Costa-Nascimento 5, Eliana F. Monteiro 1 , Bruno S. Mathias 1 , Jeffrey A. Bell 6 , Lilian O. Guimarães 7 , Kiba J. M. Comiche 1, Gediminas Valkiunas¯ 2 and Karin Kirchgatter 1,7,* 1 Programa de Pós-Graduação em Medicina Tropical, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; [email protected] (C.C.A.); [email protected] (E.F.M.); [email protected] (B.S.M.); [email protected] (K.J.M.C.) 2 Nature Research Centre, 08412 Vilnius, Lithuania; [email protected] (C.R.F.C.); [email protected] (G.V.) 3 Programa de Pós-graduação em Ecologia e Conservação da Biodiversidade, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá 78060-900, Brazil; [email protected] 4 Comitê Brasileiro de Registros Ornitológicos—CBRO, São Paulo 04785-040, SP, Brazil; [email protected] 5 Núcleo de Estudos em Malária, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Instituto de Medicina Tropical, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo 05403-000, SP, Brazil; [email protected] 6 Citation: Anjos, C.C.; Chagas, C.R.F.; Department of Biology, University of North Dakota, 10 Cornell Street, Grand Forks, ND 58202, USA; [email protected] Fecchio, A.; Schunck, F.; Costa- 7 Laboratório de Bioquímica e Biologia Molecular, Superintendência de Controle de Endemias, Nascimento, M.J.; Monteiro, E.F.; São Paulo 01027-000, SP, Brazil; [email protected] Mathias, B.S.; Bell, J.A.; Guimarães, * Correspondence: [email protected]; Tel.: +55-11-3311-1177 L.O.; Comiche, K.J.M.; et al.
    [Show full text]
  • 10 High Prevalence.Pdf
    Short Communication High Prevalence Level of Avian Malaria in the Wild Population of the Java Sparrow Tingginya Tingkat Prevalensi Malaria Burung pada Populasi Liar Gelatik Jawa Pramana Yuda Fakultas Teknobiologi Universitas Atma Jaya Yogyakarta, Jl. Babarsari 44 Yogyakarta 55281 E-mail: [email protected] Java sparrow (Padda oryzativa) is an species were parasitized by more than one endemic bird to Java and Bali. It used to be a species (Paperna et al., 2005). However, little very common bird, but due to over exploitation has been known about the level of the the bird has declined and been classified as prevalence in non-forest bird in this area. This Vulnerable (BirdLife International, 2001). In paper reports the finding of prevalence level of Indonesia bird-keeping is a popular pastime, avian malaria in the wild population of Java with deep cultural roots (Jepson and Ladle, sparrow using the molecular analysis. 2005). It is widely assumed that the hobby negatively affects wild populations of common Sample as well as threatened birds (Jepson and Ladle, In total, 38 DNA samples were used to 2005; Nash, 1994), such as Java sparrow. assess the prevalence level of avian malaria in Other factors have been suggested as the Java sparrow. As comparison two common threats, i.e. destruction and habitat loss, finches species, i.e. Chesnut Munia (Lonchura intensive used of pesticide, and competition ferruginosa) and White-headed Munia with Eurasian Tree sparrow (Balen, 1997; (Lonchura maja), were also assessed, 15 BirdLife International, 2001). So far, however, samples respectively. only the last factor has been studied systematically.
    [Show full text]
  • Avian Hemosporidian Parasites from Northern California Oak Woodland and Chaparral Habitats
    Journal of Wildlife Diseases, 44(2), 2008, pp. 260–268 # Wildlife Disease Association 2008 AVIAN HEMOSPORIDIAN PARASITES FROM NORTHERN CALIFORNIA OAK WOODLAND AND CHAPARRAL HABITATS Ellen S. Martinsen,1,4 Benjamin J. Blumberg,1 Rebecca J. Eisen,2,3 and Jos J. Schall1 1 Department of Biology, University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405, USA 2 Division of Insect Biology, 201 Wellman Hall, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720, USA 3 Current Address: Division of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PO Box 2087, Fort Collins, Colorado 80522, USA 4 Corresponding author (email: [email protected]) ABSTRACT: During spring–summer 2003–2004, the avian community was surveyed for hemosporidian parasites in an oak (Quercus spp.) and madrone (Arbutus spp.) woodland bordering grassland and chaparral habitats at a site in northern California, a geographic location and in habitat types not previously sampled for these parasites. Of 324 birds from 46 species (21 families) sampled (including four species not previously examined for hemosporidians), 126 (39%) were infected with parasites identified as species of one or more of the genera Plasmodium (3% of birds sampled), Haemoproteus (30%), and Leucocytozoon (11%). Species of parasite were identified by morphology in stained blood smears and were consistent with one species of Plasmodium, 11 species of Haemoproteus, and four species of Leucocytozoon. We document the presence of one of the parasite genera in seven new host species and discovered 12 new parasite species–host species associations. Hatching-year birds were found infected with parasites of all three genera. Prevalence of parasites for each genus differed significantly for the entire sample, and prevalence of parasites for the most common genus, Haemoproteus, differed significantly among bird families.
    [Show full text]
  • Iwi (Vestiaria Coccinea) As Threatened Or Endangered Under the U.S
    PETITION TO LIST THE `I`IWI (VESTIARIA COCCINEA) AS THREATENED OR ENDANGERED UNDER THE U.S. ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT August 24, 2010 Center for Biological Diversity `I`IWI (VESTIARIA COCCINEA) Photo source: Wikipedia 1 August 24, 2010 Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior Robyn Thorson, Regional Director U.S. Department of the Interior U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service 1849 C Street N.W. Pacific Region Washington, DC 20240 911 NE 11th Ave Portland, Oregon 97232 Dear Secretary Salazar, The Center for Biological Diversity, Noah Greenwald, and Dr. Tony Povilitis formally petition to list the `I`iwi (Vestiaria coccinea) as a threatened or endangered species pursuant to the Endangered Species Act (ESA), 16 U.S.C. §1531 et seq. This petition is filed under 5 U.S.C. 553(e) and 50 CFR 424.14 (1990), which grant interested parties the right to petition for issuance of a rule from the Secretary of Interior. Under the ESA, a threatened species includes “any species which is likely to become an endangered species within the foreseeable future throughout all or a signification portion of its range.” An “endangered species” is one that is in danger of extinction. The `I`iwi warrants listing because it is imperiled by climate change and disease in combination with other factors, is declining in population size and range, and is not adequately protected by existing regulatory mechanisms. With climate change forcing the spread of avian malaria and avian pox, the `I`iwi is in danger of near term extinction in the western portion of its range (the islands of Kauai, Oahu, and Molokai, and on west Maui), and severe population declines with risk of extinction within the foreseeable future across its eastern range (east Maui and the island of Hawaii).
    [Show full text]
  • Plasmodium Matutinum Causing Avian Malaria in Lovebirds (Agapornis Roseicollis) Hosted in an Italian Zoo
    microorganisms Article Plasmodium matutinum Causing Avian Malaria in Lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis) Hosted in an Italian Zoo Cristiano Cocumelli 1, Manuela Iurescia 1 , Elena Lavinia Diaconu 1 , Valentina Galietta 1, Caterina Raso 1, Carmela Buccella 1, Fiorentino Stravino 1, Francesco Grande 2, Letizia Fiorucci 3, Claudio De Liberato 1, Andrea Caprioli 1,* and Antonio Battisti 1 1 Department of General Diagnostics, Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio e della Toscana “M. Aleandri”, 00178 Rome, Italy; [email protected] (C.C.); [email protected] (M.I.); [email protected] (E.L.D.); [email protected] (V.G.); [email protected] (C.R.); [email protected] (C.B.); fi[email protected] (F.S.); [email protected] (C.D.L.); [email protected] (A.B.) 2 Loro Parque Fundación, Avenida Loro Parque, Puerto de la Cruz, 38400 Tenerife, Spain; [email protected] 3 Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Arucas, 35416 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain; letiziafi[email protected] * Correspondence: [email protected] Abstract: Avian malaria is a worldwide distributed, vector-born disease of birds caused by parasites of the order Haemosporida. There is a lack of knowledge about the presence and pathogenetic role of Haemosporida in Psittacidae. Here we report a case of avian malaria infection in lovebirds (Agapornis roseicollis), with the genetic characterization of the Plasmodium species involved. The birds were Citation: Cocumelli, C.; Iurescia, M.; hosted in a zoo located in Italy, where avian malaria cases in African penguins (Spheniscus demersus) Diaconu, E.L.; Galietta, V.; Raso, C.; were already reported.
    [Show full text]